Amtrak Gets Waiver for Broadband in Passenger Trains Serving Northeast Corridor

The FCC agreed to a waiver sought by Amtrak on the rules under which its Wi-Fi network operates so it can offer more robust service along its key Northeast Corridor (NEC). Amtrak requested the waiver in December (see 1612220013). “This action will permit Amtrak to deploy operations on its wireless trackside network (TSN) within the Northeast Corridor under the specifications that apply to fixed point-to-point operation in both the 5.15-5.25 GHz (U-NII-1) and 5.75-5.85 GHz (U-NII-3) bands,” said an order signed by Julius Knapp, chief of the Office of Engineering and Technology. The waiver applies only to the NEC's core Boston-Washington portion. The order specifies the total number of radios that can be used with the system and sets forth the boundaries of permissible communications. OET said it wouldn't condition the waiver on Amtrak’s use of any particular equipment for its TSN, provided the equipment complies with FCC equipment authorization rules. “The TSN bears many characteristics of a fixed point-to-point network,” OET said. “Both the access points and train-based radios transmit in a highly directional manner. Because Amtrak’s operations will be exclusively within the bounds of the NEC [right of way], its mobile operations will essentially be operating at a series of fixed linear points along a defined path.” In March, the Wi-Fi Alliance raised concerns (see 1703010027) on the proposed waiver, saying the passenger railroad must first “demonstrate that the benefit its customers will receive will not impose a cost on other users of the 5 GHz band.”